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Updated: May 21, 2025

Assessment of Stress Effects on Cognitive Flexibility using an Operant Strategy Shifting Paradigm
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Menstrual cycle effects on cognitive performance: A meta-analysis.

Daisung Jang1, Jack Zhang2, Hillary Anger Elfenbein3

  • 1Melbourne Business School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

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|March 17, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cognitive performance in women does not significantly change throughout the menstrual cycle. A meta-analysis found no robust evidence supporting myths of cycle-related cognitive shifts in attention, executive function, or other abilities.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychology
  • Women's Health

Background:

  • Menstruation is often subject to myths regarding its effects on women's cognitive abilities.
  • Previous empirical studies have yielded inconsistent findings, necessitating a quantitative summary.
  • A lack of comprehensive meta-analyses exists for cognitive performance across the menstrual cycle.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct a meta-analysis of cognitive performance across the menstrual cycle.
  • To investigate potential changes in specific cognitive domains, including attention, creativity, executive functioning, intelligence, motor function, spatial ability, and verbal ability.
  • To quantitatively summarize existing research and address the gap in knowledge regarding menstrual cycle influences on cognition.

Main Methods:

  • A meta-analysis was performed on 102 articles involving 3,943 participants and 730 comparisons.
  • Cognitive performance was assessed at specific points in the menstrual cycle using tasks with objectively correct responses.
  • Hedges' g was used as the effect size metric to examine performance differences across cycle phases.

Main Results:

  • No systematic, robust evidence was found for significant shifts in cognitive performance across the menstrual cycle.
  • While some spatial ability differences appeared significant, they were not supported by robust methodologies for cycle phase determination.
  • Analysis of speed and accuracy measures separately also revealed no robust differences across cycle phases.

Conclusions:

  • The current body of research does not support the notion that women's cognitive abilities fluctuate significantly with the menstrual cycle.
  • Future research should employ larger sample sizes and standardized definitions of the menstrual cycle, incorporating hormonal indicators.
  • This meta-analysis provides a quantitative summary debunking common myths about menstrual cycle-related cognitive changes.